Zabargad Island (Egyptian Arabic: جزيرة الزبرجدGeziret El Zabargad, also known as St. John's Island in English) is the largest of a group of islands in Foul Bay, Egypt. It covers an area of 4.50 square kilometres (1.74 square miles). It is not a quaternaryvolcanic island, but rather is believed to be an upthrusted part of upper mantle material. The nearest island is known as "Rocky Island". The island is slightly north of the Tropic of Cancer, and its highest point is 235 metres (771 feet).
Before the mid 270s [BCE] Ptolemaic activity along the African coast of the Red Sea had been limited with few significant results other than the discovery of the 'topaz' deposits on the island of Gazirat Zabarjad southeast of Ras Banas. ... 2. Pliny, HN 37, 108 refers to a large topaz that was brought back to Egypt as a gift for Ptolemy I's queen Berenice I.[1]
Geologyedit
Historic specimen of forsterite var. peridot, 1.3 cm × 0.7 cm × 0.4 cm (0.5 in × 0.3 in × 0.2 in). Mining of peridot seems to have begun around 300 BC.
The island is considered geologically unique as it is uplifted mantle, a fragment of the sub-Red Sealithosphere. Rocks on the island are mainly lower crustaligneous rocks. The island became present above sea level after African and Asiatic continental plates converged to cause rocks in the lower crust to be uplifted. The island contains three masses of peridotite, which are rich in the gemstone peridot (olivine). The island is believed to be the first discovered source of peridot, which was called topazios in ancient times, hence the Greek name for the island, Topazios. Layers of spinel-lherzolites with anhydrousAl-diopsidepyroxenites and hydrousCr-diopside pyroxenites can be found too on the island.[citation needed]
Pliny, XXXV, chap. 22 says that, according to Juba, the island "Topazus in the Red Sea", also had mines producing sandarach (realgar) and ochre, "but neither of them are imported to us from that place."[2]
Natureedit
The island is part of the Elba National Park meaning the island is conserved. However, the island was closed to the public for one year due to damage to corals and the disturbance of birds who breed on the island.
Birdsedit
The island serves as a breeding ground for at least nine known species of birds. The most recent discovery was that of 150 pairs of sooty falcon (Falco concolor) in October, 1994.
Plantlifeedit
There is very little vegetation on the island due to the lack of soil.
Corals and sealifeedit
The corals surround the island and act as a barrier for the fish and other sea life which live among it. However, the corals recently became damaged due to increased tourist activity and the expansion of the diving industry on the island. The coral is located approximately 25 metres below the surface.
Fish that can be found within the nearby waters and corals are:
The island is near coral reefs, which are a popular diving attraction for tourists. The diving industry on the island has increased as well as the tourism industry on the island in general resulting in construction of hotels and diving shelves. The beaches are often quiet and are relatively unspoilt by development. However, most tourists go to this island as a "stop-off" before going to Rocky Island in the south.
Referencesedit
^On the Erythraean Sea. Agatharchides of Cnidus. Translated from the Greek and edited by Stanley M. Burstein. The Hakluyt Society. London. 1989, p. 6 and n. 2.
^The Natural History by Pliny the Elder. Vol. VI. Translated by John Bostock and H. T. Riley. Henry G. Bohn, York St., Covent Garden, London, pp. 239-240 and n. 34.
External linksedit
St. John's Island peridot information and history at Mindat.org
zabargad, island, other, islands, called, saint, john, island, john, island, disambiguation, egyptian, arabic, جزيرة, الزبرجد, geziret, zabargad, also, known, john, island, english, largest, group, islands, foul, egypt, covers, area, square, kilometres, square. For other islands called Saint John s Island see St John s Island disambiguation Zabargad Island Egyptian Arabic جزيرة الزبرجد Geziret El Zabargad also known as St John s Island in English is the largest of a group of islands in Foul Bay Egypt It covers an area of 4 50 square kilometres 1 74 square miles It is not a quaternary volcanic island but rather is believed to be an upthrusted part of upper mantle material The nearest island is known as Rocky Island The island is slightly north of the Tropic of Cancer and its highest point is 235 metres 771 feet Zabargad Island Egypt Contents 1 History 2 Geology 3 Nature 3 1 Birds 3 2 Plantlife 3 3 Corals and sealife 4 Tourism 5 References 6 External linksHistory editBefore the mid 270s BCE Ptolemaic activity along the African coast of the Red Sea had been limited with few significant results other than the discovery of the topaz deposits on the island of Gazirat Zabarjad southeast of Ras Banas 2 Pliny HN 37 108 refers to a large topaz that was brought back to Egypt as a gift for Ptolemy I s queen Berenice I 1 Geology edit nbsp Historic specimen of forsterite var peridot 1 3 cm 0 7 cm 0 4 cm 0 5 in 0 3 in 0 2 in Mining of peridot seems to have begun around 300 BC The island is considered geologically unique as it is uplifted mantle a fragment of the sub Red Sea lithosphere Rocks on the island are mainly lower crustal igneous rocks The island became present above sea level after African and Asiatic continental plates converged to cause rocks in the lower crust to be uplifted The island contains three masses of peridotite which are rich in the gemstone peridot olivine The island is believed to be the first discovered source of peridot which was called topazios in ancient times hence the Greek name for the island Topazios Layers of spinel lherzolites with anhydrous Al diopside pyroxenites and hydrous Cr diopside pyroxenites can be found too on the island citation needed Pliny XXXV chap 22 says that according to Juba the island Topazus in the Red Sea also had mines producing sandarach realgar and ochre but neither of them are imported to us from that place 2 Nature editThe island is part of the Elba National Park meaning the island is conserved However the island was closed to the public for one year due to damage to corals and the disturbance of birds who breed on the island Birds edit The island serves as a breeding ground for at least nine known species of birds The most recent discovery was that of 150 pairs of sooty falcon Falco concolor in October 1994 Plantlife edit There is very little vegetation on the island due to the lack of soil Corals and sealife edit The corals surround the island and act as a barrier for the fish and other sea life which live among it However the corals recently became damaged due to increased tourist activity and the expansion of the diving industry on the island The coral is located approximately 25 metres below the surface Fish that can be found within the nearby waters and corals are Rays Moray eels Octopus Crocodilefish CuttlefishTourism editThe island is near coral reefs which are a popular diving attraction for tourists The diving industry on the island has increased as well as the tourism industry on the island in general resulting in construction of hotels and diving shelves The beaches are often quiet and are relatively unspoilt by development However most tourists go to this island as a stop off before going to Rocky Island in the south References edit On the Erythraean Sea Agatharchides of Cnidus Translated from the Greek and edited by Stanley M Burstein The Hakluyt Society London 1989 p 6 and n 2 The Natural History by Pliny the Elder Vol VI Translated by John Bostock and H T Riley Henry G Bohn York St Covent Garden London pp 239 240 and n 34 External links editSt John s Island peridot information and history at Mindat org Bird Life Information 23 36 35 N 36 11 45 E 23 60972 N 36 19583 E 23 60972 36 19583 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Zabargad Island amp oldid 1204636085, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
